NoWaste vs Well Stockd: track the pantry, then cook from it

NoWaste tracks your food inventory, much like the inventory side of Well Stockd. The difference is what comes next: Well Stockd turns that list into recipes you can make and a shopping list.

Weighing more than two apps? Read NoWaste app alternatives if your inventory keeps disappearing.

What you keep

The inventory itself, with quantities and expiry dates, and the warning before something goes bad.
The fridge, freezer and pantry together on Free, for up to 30 foods. Pro has no limit.
A shopping list that comes out of the inventory rather than memory.
More than 5,700 recipes attached to that inventory, each one checked against what you have.

Kitchen list sorted by use soon, grouped into fridge and pantry, each item with its amount and buttons to change it — The inventory, sorted by what to use first Free

Recipe grid with a badge on each recipe showing how many items are missing, and Can make now where nothing is — What the same inventory can cook tonight Free

What it costs

NoWaste prices as of October 2026. Prices move, so check their current listing before deciding.
What matters	NoWaste	Well Stockd
Price	NoWaste Pro is $6.99 a year, or $29.99 as a lifetime unlock.	Free inventory of up to 30 foods, recipe matching, shopping lists and step-by-step cook mode. Pro has no food limit and is $7.99 a month or $79 a year.
Free tier	One location, with pantry, fridge and freezer lists. Pro unlocks unlimited items and up to 20 locations.	Inventory of up to 30 foods with estimated best-by dates and reminders, the full catalog, can-make matching, a shopping list you can send to a Walmart or Kroger cart after checking it, and step-by-step cook mode. Two custom recipe lists and unlimited personal recipes.
Ads	None. The Play listing carries no ads badge.	None. The app carries no advertising.

Side by side

Side-by-side as of October 2026. Competitor details change, so check their current listings before deciding.
What matters	NoWaste	Well Stockd
Status	Alive and actively updated, with releases in October 2026 on both stores.	Inventory, recipes, shopping and cooking are available in one account.
Pantry and fridge inventory	Its core feature, and the reason people use it.	Full fridge, freezer and pantry inventory with expiry dates, freshness-aware sorting and reminders before food is due. Free keeps up to 30 foods; Pro has no limit.
Getting your data out	No export, backup or CSV is documented on either store listing or on the NoWaste site.	Export everything you own at any time, on Free: your recipes with their photos, your kitchen, lists and plan, as one ZIP file of CSV and JSON. You can also delete your account in Settings.
Recipe catalog	Recipe books for each location, and NoWaste says you can cook from recipes based on what you have. It publishes no catalog size.	More than 5,700 recipes, matched live against what you actually have in.
Meal planning	Meal plans for each location, on Pro.	Planner for this week on Free. Pro plans up to eight weeks ahead with a month view, suggests a week from what you have, and builds the shopping list from the plan.

Sources

The pages we read for what this guide says about NoWaste. Each may have changed since the date shown.

NoWaste: home page (opens in a new tab), checked October 2026
Apple App Store: NoWaste listing (opens in a new tab), checked October 2026
Google Play: NoWaste listing (opens in a new tab), checked October 2026

This page was last updated November 6, 2026.

What you gain

Best-by dates. The app shows estimates and sorts items needing attention near the top. Free on every account.
Can-make matching. Every recipe says whether you can cook it tonight with what you already have.
A shopping list that reflects what you already own. Use it at any store, or check the matches and send it to a Walmart or Kroger cart.
Pro household sync. One shared kitchen for members, rather than separate inventories.

The honest trade-off

What you may miss: NoWaste has a lifetime unlock at $29.99 and Well Stockd does not sell one. If you want to pay once for an inventory and nothing more, that is a fair trade and this page will not talk you out of it.

When you should stay with NoWaste

Stay with NoWaste if:

You want an inventory and nothing else, paid for once.
You already have a recipe app you like and do not want the two joined up.

How to move off NoWaste

There is no export documented, so photograph or write down the shelves you have already cataloged before you stop.
Re-stock here without retyping everything: scan barcodes in a batch, read a receipt, or say what’s on the shelves, then review the list before it’s saved.
Put the perishables in first. The expiry warnings and the freshness sorting only pay off once the fridge is in.
Open the catalog once the fridge is in, and see what the same inventory can cook tonight.
Create a free account and confirm your email. Seven days of full Pro start right then, with no card.

Founding offer ended

The switch offer has closed. Free includes inventory, recipe matching, shopping lists and step-by-step cook mode; current Pro pricing is on the pricing page.

See plans

Common questions

How much does NoWaste cost?

As of October 2026, NoWaste Pro is $6.99 a year or $29.99 for a lifetime unlock. The free plan covers one location.

Can I export my NoWaste inventory?

No export, backup or CSV is documented on either store listing or on the NoWaste site, so plan on photographing your shelves rather than moving a file.

What does Well Stockd add over a pantry tracker?

A catalog of more than 5,700 recipes matched against what you have, a weekly planner (weeks ahead on Pro), a shopping list for the gaps and a Walmart cart you review before it’s sent.